Arrow borne scent delivery system

ABSTRACT

An arrow having an arrowhead assembly is disclosed for delivering scent to a remote location. The arrowhead assembly includes a base, a releasing mechanism defining a reservoir and including a cap connected to said base, and a pad disposed within the reservoir. The releasing mechanism releases the pad from within the reservoir upon impact with a surface. The releasing mechanism defines a frangible break-line between the cap and the base to detach the cap from the base, thereby releasing the pad from the reservoir. The pad may include a spike for attaching the pad to a surface upon impact.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of prior non-provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 11/153,136 filed Jun. 15, 2005, and claimsthe benefits of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/708,564filed on Aug. 16, 2005, the advantages and disclosure of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The subject invention relates to an arrow having an arrowhead assemblyfor remotely delivering a scent to a location.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Many millions of people around the world enjoy the sport of archery. Ofthese, over four (4) million hunters in the United States alone take tothe field each year to hunt big game, i.e., deer, elk, etc. One of thetools of the bow hunter is the use of a marking media, such as a“scent”. The scent can be in the form of a cover scent, e.g., skunkscent, fox urine, etc., meant to mask the scent of the hunter, oralternatively, it may be in the form of an attractor scent designed tolure a buck to a certain spot in the forest where the hunter believes adoe may be ready to mate.

Currently, the preferred method of delivering attractor scents involvesthe hunter going to a spot in the forest and “dropping” scent at thelocation. The method of dropping the scent generally takes the form ofapplying the scent to a felt pad and leaving the pad suspended from atree branch or by simply placing the pad on the ground. The riskassociated with this method of dropping the scent is that while thehunter is placing the attractor scent, by the very nature of being atthe location, the hunter is also leaving their human scent along theway. Human scent is not an attractor scent for most game species, andactually tends to repel most game species.

Alternative methods of delivering the attractor scents have beendeveloped. One such method includes incorporating a scent with an arrow,allowing the hunter to launch the arrow into the location withoutactually entering the location, thereby permitting the hunter to avoidleaving their human scent at the location where the attractor scent isapplied. This method of delivering the scent may be referred to as anairborne delivery method. An example of an arrow utilized in such anairborne delivery method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,881,743 (the'743 patent) to Fiorenzo, titled “Scent Head Arrow”.

The '743 patent discloses an arrow having an arrowhead for remotelydelivering a scent to a location. The arrow comprises a shaft having anock end and extending to a distal end along a central axis. Fletchingis attached to the shaft near the nock end. The arrowhead includes abase, which is removably attached to the distal end of the shaft. Thebase defines a reservoir, and a plurality of slots therethrough. A padis disposed within the reservoir. The pad includes an absorbent materialfor retaining a liquid scent, with the scent being dispersed through theslots of the base during flight. The arrowhead further includes a capattached to the base to secure the pad within the reservoir. The baseand the cap each define concentric circular openings for receiving theshaft of the arrow therethrough in a push fit connection, therebysecuring the arrowhead to the shaft of the arrow. The distal end of thearrow extends outward beyond the circular opening of the cap. In use,the arrowhead remains attached to the shaft of the arrow, and the padremains in the reservoir. Accordingly, the scent is only dispersed fromthe pad into the air and is not applied onto an object, such as a tree,fence post, etc. Additionally, when launched, the distal end of theshaft must absorb the full force produced by impact with a surfacebecause the distal end of the shaft extends outward beyond the cap ofthe arrowhead. Consequently, the force of the impact may damage theshaft of the arrow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES

The subject invention provides an arrow for remotely delivering a scentto a location. The arrow comprises an arrowhead assembly and a shafthaving a nock end and extending to an opposing distal end. The arrowheadassembly includes a base, which is removably attached to the distal endof the shaft. The base defines a reservoir, and a pad is disposed withinthe reservoir. A releasing mechanism is coupled to the base and isdetachable from the base upon impact to release the pad from within thereservoir.

Accordingly, the subject invention provides an arrowhead assembly thatreleases the pad from the arrowhead assembly upon impact with a surface.In this manner, a marking media, such as a scent, is released from thepad and spread onto the surface, as well as dispersed from the pad sothat the scent may emanate from the surface as well as the pad. Thesubject invention may therefore deliver the scent to locations, such asan elevated location in a tree, which the prior art was unable toaccomplish. Additionally, the releasing mechanism is disposed at thedistal end of the shaft, thereby absorbing a portion of the kineticenergy carried by the arrow at impact to protect the shaft of the arrowfrom damage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated,as the same becomes better understood by reference to the followingdetailed description when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of an archer launching an arrow;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the arrow;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an arrowhead assembly;

FIG. 4 is an exploded fragmentary view of the arrowhead assembly showingan alternative snap fit connection between a base and a cap of thearrowhead assembly;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a fan portion of a scent pad;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of thearrowhead assembly;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the alternative embodimentshown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a marking media subassembly;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the arrow at impact showing areleasing mechanism detaching the cap from the base;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the arrow after detachment of thecap from the base, showing the exposed pad; and

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of another alternative embodiment ofthe arrowhead assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate correspondingparts throughout the several views, an arrow is shown generally at 20.As shown in FIG. 1, the arrow 20 remotely delivers a marking media to alocation, and includes a shaft 22 and an arrowhead assembly 24 attachedto the shaft 22. Referring to FIG. 2, the shaft 22 includes a nock end26, and extends to an opposing distal end 28, with the arrowheadassembly 24 attached to the distal end 28 of the shaft 22. Fletching 30is attached to the shaft 22 near the nock end 26.

Referring also to FIG. 3, the arrowhead assembly 24 includes a base 32,which is removably attached to the distal end 28 of the shaft 22. Areleasing mechanism 34 is coupled to the base 32 and defines a mediareservoir 36, with a pad 38 disposed within the media reservoir 36 andsupported by the base 32, thereby enclosing the pad 38 within thereservoir 36. The releasing mechanism 34 is detachable from the base 32upon impact with a surface. When detached from the base 32, thereleasing mechanism 34 exposes the pad 38 from within the mediareservoir 36, thereby releasing the pad 38 from the arrow 20 andallowing the marking media to be transferred to the surface so that themarking media may emanate from both the surface and the pad 38.Preferably, the marking media is a liquid scent, such as doe urine orsome other attractant scent. However, it should be understood that themarking media may be something other than a liquid scent.

The releasing mechanism 34 includes a cap 40 abutting the base 32 anddefining at least one break-line 42 frangible upon impact with thesurface to detach the cap 40 from the base 32. The break-line 42 is azone of weakness, which is easily broken upon the cap 40 impacting thesurface. As a result of the frangible break-line 42 fracturing, aconnection interconnecting the base 32 and the cap 40 is sufficientlyloosened to separate the cap 40 from the base 32.

The cap 40 includes a cylindrical portion 44, a conical portion 46, anda blunt end 48 covering the conical portion 46. The releasing mechanism34 further includes a front plate 50, also shown in FIG. 5, disposedwithin the cylindrical portion 44 of cap 40 adjacent the conical portion46. The front plate 50 includes a diameter substantially equal to oronly slightly smaller than a diameter of the cylindrical portion 44 ofthe cap 40. As illustrated with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the frontplate 50 advances forward into the conical portion 46 upon impact withthe surface, thereby expanding the conical portion 46 to fracture thecap 40. It should be understood that the conical portion 46 includes adiameter that continuously decreases with an increase in distance fromthe cylindrical portion 44 of the cap 40. Accordingly, the farther thefront plate 50 advances into the conical portion 46, the more the frontplate 50 will spread the continuously narrowing conical portion 46outward until the frangible break-line 42 fractures, detaching the cap40 from the base 32.

The cap 40 includes at least one port 52 for supplying a liquid to themedia reservoir 36, and thereby to the pad 38. A plug 54 is disposedwithin the port 52 for retaining the liquid within the media reservoir36. The liquid contains the desired marking media to be applied, such asa scent as is known in the art. Differing scents are readably availablefor use. The pad 38 includes an absorbent material for absorbing theliquid. The absorbent material may include a felt or cotton material, asponge, or some other material suitable for absorbing and retaining theliquid marking media. In use, the hunter applies the liquid markingmedia to the pad 38 through the port 52, saturating the pad 38 with theliquid marking media. The plug 54 is then inserted into the port 52 tominimize evaporation of the liquid marking media, thereby permittingeasy transportation and temporary storage of the arrow 20 prior to use.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the arrowhead assembly 24 furthercomprises an arrowhead connector 56 for interconnecting the base 32 andthe shaft 22 of the arrow 20. The arrowhead connector 56 includes anelongate portion 58 having a threaded end 60 for threaded insertion intoa receiving plug 62 (often referred to as an arrow insert) disposedwithin the distal end 28 of the shaft 22. A flange 64 extends radiallyoutward from the elongate portion 58 for supporting the base 32. A post66 is concentric with the elongate portion 58 and extends outward fromthe flange 64. The base 32 further includes a bore 68 for slideablyengaging the post 66 in a push fit connection, thereby connecting thearrowhead connector 56 and the base 32, and allowing for easyreplacement of the base 32 to permit continued reuse of the arrow 20.

The base 32 includes a cylindrical outer wall 70 disposed adjacent thecylindrical portion 44 of the cap 40. Preferably, the cap 40 is attachedto the base 32 by suitable methods known in the art, such as sonicwelding or chemical adhesion. It should be understood that othersuitable methods may be employed that are capable of bonding the cap 40to the base 32 in sealed engagement to prevent leakage or evaporation ofthe liquid scent stored therein.

Alternatively the arrowhead assembly 24 may comprise a detent device 72interconnecting the cylindrical outer wall 70 of the base 32 and thecylindrical portion 44 of the releasing mechanism 34. As shown in FIG.4, the detent device 72 includes a groove 74 disposed in the cylindricalouter wall 70 of the base 32 and a ridge 76 disposed in the cylindricalportion 44 of the cap 40 such that the ridge 76 is disposed within thegroove 74 in a snap fit connection. It should be understood that thedetent device 72 may be configured in some other configuration suitablefor connecting the base 32 and the cap 40 and still fall within thescope of the claims.

Upon the arrow 20 impacting the surface, the weight of the arrow 20, andthe energy stored therein, fractures the releasing mechanism 34 of thearrowhead assembly 24. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, upon impact, inertiadrives the flange 64 of the arrowhead connector 56 into the base 32 ofthe arrowhead assembly 24. As the flange 64 initially advances forward,the base 32 fractures around the bore 68 defined by the base 32. As thearrow 20 continues to advance, the flange 64 of the arrowhead connector56 drives the front plate 50 into the conical portion 46 of the cap 40as described above to fracture the cap 40. Accordingly, after impact,the base 32 and the cap 40 are both fractured into several pieces anddisengaged from the arrowhead connector 56. The arrow 20 may beretrieved and a new arrowhead assembly 24 placed over the post 66 of thearrowhead connector 56 via the push fit connection to permit continuedreuse of the arrow 20.

In an alternative embodiment, referring to FIGS. 6 through 8, thearrowhead assembly 24 further comprises a pad subassembly including arear plate 78 attached to the pad 38 and a spike 80 interconnecting therear plate 78, the pad 38, and the front plate 50. The pad 38 isdisposed between the rear plate 78 and the front plate 50. The spike 80presents a point 82 extending beyond the front plate 50 for attachingthe pad 38 to the surface upon impact with the surface. The port 52 isconcentric with the spike 80 for receiving the point 82 of the spike 80therethrough. The spike 80 does not extend through the opening prior toimpact with the surface so as not to interfere with the detachmentoperation of the releasing mechanism 34 to detach the cap 40 from thebase 32.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the pad 38 includes a body portion 84and a fan portion 86. Both the body portion 84 and the fan portion 86include the absorbent material as described above. The body portion 84includes a cylindrical shape and defines a central opening 88therethrough for receiving the spike 80. The fan portion 86 includes acenter 90 and a plurality of tabs 92 extending outwardly from the center90. The plurality of tabs 92 wrap around the body portion 84 whendisposed within the media reservoir 36 defined by the releasingmechanism 34. Accordingly, the marking media stored in the body portion84 will mostly be excreted from the body portion 84 upon impact with thesurface, whereas the marking media stored in the tabs 92 of the fanportion 86 will remain therein.

In yet another alternative embodiment, referring to FIG. 11, thearrowhead assembly 24 further comprises a second pad 94 disposed withinthe media reservoir 36 between the base 32 and the rear plate 78. Asshown, the first pad 38 includes the spike 80 as described above forattaching the first pad 38 to the surface. The second pad 94 does notinclude the spike 80, and is therefore free to fall to the ground upondetachment of the cap 40 from the base 32. Accordingly, this embodimentwill attach the first pad 38 to the surface, with the second pad 94falling to the ground so the marking media emanates from both the pad 38attached to the surface and from the pad 38 on the ground.

The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with therelevant legal standards; thus, the description is exemplary rather thanlimiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosedembodiments may become apparent to those skilled in the art and do comewithin the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of legalprotection afforded this invention can only be determined by studyingthe following claims.

1. An arrow for remotely delivering a marking media to a location, saidarrow comprising: a shaft having a nock end and extending to an opposingdistal end; a base removably attached to said distal end of said shaft;a pad supported by the base; and a releasing mechanism coupled to saidbase and defining a reservoir with said pad disposed therein detachablefrom said base upon impact for exposing said pad within said reservoir.2. An arrow as set forth in claim 1 wherein said releasing mechanismincludes a cap abutting said base and defining at least one break-linebetween said cap and said base with said cap being frangible about saidbreak-line upon impact to detach said cap from said base.
 3. An arrow asset forth in claim 2 wherein said cap includes a cylindrical portion anda conical portion and wherein said releasing mechanism further includesa front plate disposed within said cylindrical portion adjacent saidconical portion for expanding said conical portion as said front plateadvances forward into said conical portion upon impact with the surfaceto fracture said releasing mechanism.
 4. An arrow as set forth in claim3 wherein said cap includes at least one port for supplying a liquid tosaid pad and said arrow further comprises a plug disposed in said portto retain the liquid within said reservoir.
 5. An arrow as set forth inclaim 4 wherein said pad includes an absorbent material for absorbingthe liquid.
 6. An arrow as set forth in claim 3 further comprising arear plate attached to said pad and a spike interconnecting said rearplate, said pad, and said front plate with said pad disposed betweensaid rear plate and said front plate and said spike presenting a pointextending beyond said front plate for attaching said pad to a surfaceupon impact.
 7. An arrow as set forth in claim 6 wherein said port isconcentric with said spike for receiving said point of said spiketherethrough.
 8. An arrow as set forth in claim 7 wherein said capincludes a blunt end covering said conical portion.
 9. An arrow as setforth in claim 6 further comprising a second pad disposed within saidreservoir between said base and said rear plate.
 10. An arrow as setforth in claim 3 wherein said base and said cap are connected byadhesion.
 11. An arrow as set forth in claim 3 wherein said baseincludes a cylindrical outer wall disposed adjacent said cylindricalportion of said cap and wherein said arrow further comprises a detentdevice interconnecting said cylindrical outer wall of said base and saidcylindrical portion of said cap.
 12. An arrow as set forth in claim 11wherein said detent device includes a groove disposed in saidcylindrical outer wall of said base and a ridge disposed in saidcylindrical portion of said cap such that said ridge is disposed withinsaid groove in a snap fit connection.
 13. An assembly as set forth inclaim 1 further comprising an arrowhead connector for interconnectingsaid base and the shaft of the arrow.
 14. An assembly as set forth inclaim 13 wherein said arrowhead connector includes an elongate portionhaving a threaded end for threaded insertion into a receiving plugdisposed within the shaft.
 15. An assembly as set forth in claim 14wherein said arrowhead connector includes a flange extending radiallyoutward from said elongate portion for supporting said base.
 16. Anassembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said arrowhead connectorincludes a post concentric with said elongate portion and extendingoutward from said flange and wherein said base includes a bore forslideably engaging said post in a push fit connection.
 17. An arrowheadassembly for remotely delivering a marking media to a location by anarrow having a shaft, said assembly comprising: a base for attachment tothe shaft of the arrow; a pad supported by said base; and a releasingmechanism coupled to said base and defining a reservoir with said paddisposed therein and detachable from said base upon impact for exposingsaid pad within said reservoir.
 18. An assembly as set forth in claim 17wherein said releasing mechanism includes a cap abutting said base anddefining at least one break-line between said cap and said base withsaid cap being frangible upon impact about said break-line to detachsaid cap from said base.
 19. An assembly as set forth in claim 18wherein said cap includes a cylindrical portion and a conical portionand wherein said releasing mechanism further includes a front platedisposed within said cylindrical portion adjacent said conical portionfor expanding said conical portion as said front plate advances forwardinto said conical portion upon impact with the surface to fracture saidreleasing mechanism.
 20. An assembly as set forth in claim 19 whereinsaid cap includes at least one port for supplying a liquid to said padand said assembly further comprises a plug disposed in said port toretain the liquid within said reservoir.
 21. An assembly as set forth inclaim 20 wherein said pad includes an absorbent material for absorbingthe liquid.
 22. An assembly as set forth in claim 19 further comprisinga rear plate attached to said pad and a spike interconnecting said rearplate, said pad, and said front plate with said pad disposed betweensaid rear plate and said front plate and said spike presenting a pointextending beyond said front plate for attaching said pad to a surfaceupon impact.
 23. An assembly as set forth in claim 22 wherein said portis concentric with said spike for receiving said point of said spiketherethrough.
 24. An assembly as set forth in claim 22 wherein said capincludes a blunt end covering said conical portion.
 25. An assembly asset forth in claim 22 further comprising a second pad disposed withinsaid reservoir between said base and said rear plate.
 26. An assembly asset forth in claim 17 further comprising an arrowhead connector forinterconnecting said base and the shaft of the arrow.
 27. An assembly asset forth in claim 26 wherein said arrowhead connector includes anelongate portion having a threaded end for threaded insertion into areceiving plug disposed within the shaft.
 28. An assembly as set forthin claim 27 wherein said arrowhead connector includes a flange extendingradially outward from said elongate portion for supporting said base.29. An assembly as set forth in claim 28 wherein said arrowheadconnector includes a post concentric with said elongate portion andextending outward from said flange and wherein said base includes a borefor slideably engaging said post in a push fit connection.
 30. Anassembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein said base and said cap areconnected by adhesion.
 31. An assembly as set forth in claim 19 whereinsaid base includes a cylindrical outer wall disposed adjacent saidcylindrical portion of said cap and wherein said assembly furthercomprises a detent device interconnecting said cylindrical outer wall ofsaid base and said cylindrical portion of said cap.
 32. An assembly asset forth in claim 30 wherein said detent device includes a groovedisposed in said cylindrical outer wall of said base and a ridgedisposed in said cylindrical portion of said cap such that said ridge isdisposed within said groove in a snap fit connection.